Chapter 6

Amidst this joyful atmosphere, the bearded knight stroked his fluffy beard, squinting at the two energetic youths jumping before him, while muttering, "Hehehe, you actually chose me; you must not regret it!"

If Lord Victoria were to know that I heard such remarks without any response, then I would probably no longer have a place here

Joking aside, young Master Link's future is tied to the butler's two legs. In the butler's heart, it is undoubtedly worth more than the life of this insignificant little bald official.

This set of tricks to deceive children, Link's old man has unknowingly performed countless times in front of young Master Link whenever he intentionally tries to dodge his debts. By the time Link was not yet ten years old, he had already learned to sneak food while crying and wailing when he was caught misbehaving and locked in the house. To young Master Link, the antics of this bald uncle seemed like nothing more than leftover playthings.

However, he has not yet had the opportunity to discuss these matters with Link, so how did Link come to know about them?

The bald official tightly covered his mouth this time, yet he still had to gently nod his head.

He turned his face towards those young merchants and the knight mentors standing in the center of the arena, saying: "You are not referring to these young brothers and those esteemed knights, are you?!"

Oh," Link said, rolling his eyes and scratching his head, "this uncle speaks very eloquently, but there are some parts I don't quite understand. I would like to ask this uncle for clarification.

Alright, I promise you! The plump butler did not hesitate this time and nodded in agreement immediately

They are all children of merchants, and almost the vast majority of them had their elders from home intervene and establish connections before registering, secretly giving a considerable amount of money to the bald registration officer. Now, upon realizing the bald registration officer's treacherous remarks, they could not help but become enraged.

He was indeed anxious, and from Link's reaction, he had long since realized that this young master Link before him was nothing short of a little fox. Therefore, attempting to use tricks like Aikas to deceive this young master Link would only be counterproductive. It would be better to speak frankly and clarify the matter; perhaps it might actually yield some results. Thus, trying to employ tricks like Aikas to fool this young master Link would only be a counterproductive action. It would be better to speak frankly and clarify the matter; perhaps it might actually yield some results.

Because I believe you are a true knight, and only you can teach me to become a true knight!" Link said seriously, blinking his azure eyes

The plump steward was quite thoughtful, as this was indeed an unprecedented matter. If the knight mentor chosen by Link were to be displeased or refuse, it would lead to complications. It would be better to finalize these matters on-site while he was present, thus preventing any further issues from arising

Oh? Link looked at the balding registrar and smiled mischievously: "It seems you are quite sincere!"

Then I do not understand," Link said with an innocent expression. "Since I am the genius among the knights in your words, and you have given such an evaluation to the knight mentors and students in the arena, then why should I sign up to become a knight apprentice and be one of them

Ah! The bald registration officer looked at Link's smile and instantly wished he could slap himself hard.

Since you are so sincere, I believe you wouldn't mind giving a little extra compensation to this friend of mine! Link smiled, looking even more like a little fox.

The plump steward cautiously approached and said to Link: "Well, young Master Link, we have agreed to all your terms, so what do you think about..."

The knight mentors indeed displayed the demeanor and grace befitting knights, yet they remained standing in place without any expression or movement. However, the balding registrar couldn't shake the feeling that the occasional glances shot at him by the knight mentors had grown increasingly cold.

The bald official broke into a sweat on his forehead, yet he had no choice but to grit his teeth and say: "You speak, you speak! If there is anything I have said that is not good, please feel free to mention it!"

"This reason..." The bearded knight tilted his head and said, "Alright, you can all come along!"

After all, he is the steward beside Victoria, the iron-blooded commander and bloodthirsty demon king. Although he understands the purpose behind Link's words and knows that the bald officer's statements are not entirely outrageous, hearing such words on the ground of Koloburg compels him to express his stance.

The registration officer, with a bald head, was left speechless as he looked at Link, who wore an expression that seemed harmless. In his mind, he had already assigned such a definition to him. Sweat poured down from his forehead, dripping down, yet he didn't even have the time to wipe it away

The plump steward finally awaited this long-anticipated outcome, without any delay, immediately pulling the bald official to fill out and complete all the necessary documentation for Link and Camila to serve as knight apprentices. What was originally a complicated process was completed in less than the time it takes to eat half a meal.

However, he turned his head towards the plump butler and Link: "But heroes like Lord Victoria and yourself, and geniuses like young Master Link, are certainly not the same!"

The bald registration officer looked at the increasingly sullen face of the plump steward and finally nodded in concession: "They are certainly not the same as Lord Viado and Young Master Link; they are indeed rather... rather mediocre..."

For them, not only did they successfully become a knight apprentice, but they also found a good mentor and made a good friend, which is indeed something to be quite pleased about

Alright, I will accept you for now! The bearded knight laughed heartily and added: However, if you fail my test, do not blame me for sending you back!

Although the plump steward understands that the primary role of the knights in the empire is to serve as decorative figures in ceremonies, his main concern now is to persuade the troublesome little fox before him to agree to become a knight apprentice. What kind of unconventional knight he wishes to become is no longer a matter for the plump steward to worry about

Also nearly jumping up were the plump butler and the bald registration officer. For them, this long and arduous day was finally about to clear up and reveal the moon.

However, just now, Link was joking around with the plump steward and the bald registrar, showing not a trace of respect. Yet now, he unexpectedly displays such respect towards a junior knight, leaving both the plump steward and the bald registrar feeling somewhat disconcerted.

Oh, Lord! The plump steward and the bald registrar both felt a darkness before their eyes. If they were not both individuals of knightly background, and if their physical strength had not been somewhat adequate, they would likely have fainted on the spot.

"You clever little thing," the plump steward looked at the bald official and realized he could no longer rely on him. He scolded, "Do you think you can fool young Master Link?!"

Indeed, this statement from Little Old Dad is truly a profound saying

However, the lamb and the * picture * book are beginning to extort the big bad wolf: "First, I want to designate my own knight mentor whom I wish to follow!"

The bald official let out a sigh and quickly nodded before the plump steward, saying: "Alright, no problem, I will handle all the formalities for you right away"

"Oh, Lord," he lamented inwardly, "is this fellow in front of me a child or merely a little fox? If only he were as honest as that tall young man beside him, how much better it would be!"

"O Lord, please do not torment me any further," the balding registration officer silently vowed to himself, "From now on, in any situation, I will definitely refrain from speaking out of turn!"

"It’s a misunderstanding!" The bald registration officer, feeling the murderous glare from the plump steward directed at him, forced a smile and hurriedly nodded and bowed to the plump steward and Link, saying: "Sir, young master Link, this is entirely a misunderstanding!"

To become the greatest knight, one must certainly start as a knight apprentice. How could Knight Link possibly give up such an opportunity

Uh! Those inexperienced young people standing aside were deeply moved by the bald recruitment officer's outstanding performance, to the point where they almost believed he was truly a thoughtful and far-sighted knight mentor. Even the tall young man, Kimira, who stood next to Link, now looked at the bald recruitment officer with a gaze that shifted from disdain to a hint of skepticism. After all, the officer's earnest expression and eyes filled with passionate tears seemed to convey just how sincere his words were. Many felt that if they were in Link's position, it would be quite difficult to refuse such an invitation filled with emotion and sincerity.

Link suddenly reached out his hand and pulled over the tall young man who had been happily celebrating for him: "What this bald uncle just said has also seriously hurt the feelings of my friend here, so the two conditions mentioned earlier must equally apply to my friend as well"

At this time, the knight mentors were drawn from various garrison locations. Once a knight apprentice followed a particular knight mentor, they would have to return to the mentor's garrison to complete the entire process of apprenticeship and training. Therefore, once a knight mentor was designated, it would effectively ensure the complete departure of this troublesome young master.

Although this condition is even more in violation of the code of the knight's apprentice than the previous one, it does not matter much

Ah! A slight stir spread among the young people standing by. They had just been captivated by the impassioned words of the bald registration officer, and for a moment, they had not considered such a question. However, now, deliberately reminded by Link, they immediately realized that in order to highlight Link's greatness, they had become the majority of ordinary, mediocre individuals, mere decorations, and unlearned people.

"Because the belief I have upheld my entire life has encountered a ruthless blow here!" Link looked at the bald registration officer, his innocent face revealing an expression of inexplicable grief and anger, which made almost everyone present, including the plump steward, feel a surge of sympathy for this young boy. They cast angry glances at the bald registration officer: "How could he tell me that imperial knights like Lord Victoria and you, the plump uncle, exist merely as accessories to flaunt the glory of the empire? He actually said that the knightly order is just a decoration showcasing the empire's splendor in times of peace. My God, what an insult this is for a boy who has dreamed of becoming a great knight since childhood! Tell me, how could I still have the passion and impulse to serve as a knight apprentice?"

After all, compared to others, that Lord Viado is truly someone one cannot afford to offend

He stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Link: "Young Master Link, I apologize on behalf of Aikas for his disrespectful remarks. Please do not abandon the entire knight team because of Aikas's foolishness. If you have any needs or wish to impose any punishment on Aikas, please feel free to mention it, and I will certainly ensure it is carried out!"

Young Master Link, the plump butler thought for a moment and still felt uneasy, so he ran up to Link and smiled, saying: "Why not decide who your knight mentor will be as well? This way, it will be easier for me to report back to Lord Victoria!"

Um, in response, Camila smiled innocently and said: "Friend!"

Link secretly smiled to himself

Link, you..." Camilla was a bit taken aback, looking at Link.

Uh! The plump steward and the bald registration officer were momentarily taken aback. Traditionally, it has always been the knight instructors who select their apprentices, and they had never heard of allowing apprentices to designate their own instructors.

Uh, Camila scratched her head and said: "I want to follow Link, we are friends!"

Mr. Aikas, I believe I need an explanation, the plump butler, upon hearing Link's words, also turned cold, and turned to the bald official saying: "Given Lord Victoria's temperament, I believe he would certainly not allow such blatant slander against the knight's reputation to exist"

This ... this ... the bald official is searching his intestines and belly, not knowing what to say: "Well, it can't be said like that ..."

Link casually bumped his shoulder against Camilla and said, "We're friends!"

He is a priest accompanying the group, holding a rank higher than those knights present, not to mention the merchant's offspring. Therefore, although he knows that once he utters this statement, it will be difficult for him to navigate among these individuals in the future, he can no longer afford to care about such matters at this point.

"Forget the punishment!" Link suddenly turned around and waved his hand dismissively, showing a hint of disinterest

Oh? That bearded knight appeared to regard Link's respect as a matter of course, showing not the slightest hint of surprise, and said to Link with a slight smile: "Tell me your reason"

"Punishment, huh..." Link stroked his chin and approached the bald registration officer with a cheerful smile

He was not a fierce person to begin with; it was just that certain things deep within him were untouchable. The words of that bald registration officer truly violated a major taboo in his heart, which is why it provoked such a strong reaction from him. Now, seeing the bald registration officer looking so terrified that he was about to faint, he decided to simply let him go this time

The bald official finally breathed a sigh of relief, yet he still dared not speak much, merely nodding vigorously at his own shiny, bald head

I have three conditions," Link turned to the chubby butler and said with a smile.

"What I mean is that, like some unlearned merchant's offspring, like an ordinary, useless knight such as myself," the balding registrar looked at the fat steward and Link with a grimace, adding himself to the mix: "We can only serve as decorative ornaments to flaunt the empire's prosperity, we can only be tools to embellish the peace of the empire"

Even if he truly intends to punish this unfortunate bald registrar, the plump steward remains confident that he can accomplish it on this ground in Koloburg

In the Bavarian Empire, those engaged in small trades such as gardening and blacksmithing, as well as the book handicraft industry, could hardly be well-off. The one hundred silver coins that Camila brought to enroll as a knight apprentice were saved over more than five years, with the entire family living frugally for this purpose. Today, Camila was still wearing a patched garment, which was precisely why the appearance-conscious bald registration officer looked at him with such disdain.

However, his current objective is still aligned with that of this old fox for the time being, so he certainly would not expose him. Instead, he stepped forward in a very cooperative manner and said to Link: "Young Master Link, what do you think of this..."

It turned out that he was merely happy for Link after seeing the appearance of the plump butler, yet he did not expect that Link had already thought of this for him as well

He looked at Link, his face revealing a look akin to that of a charlatan: "Oh, great deity, the first time I laid eyes on you, young master, I felt the dazzling radiance emanating from you. What I just said was merely a small test to hear the true thoughts of your heart. When I heard you express those words, how overjoyed and excited I was!"

He is the knight who just cheered for this child! Someone in the crowd recognized the appearance of this bearded knight, and many people suddenly understood.

It is said that after becoming a knight apprentice, one also needs to purchase various items such as practice armor for etiquette and simulated knight swords, which had been a source of concern for Camila.

However, if it is offered to you under certain conditions and you still do not accept it, then you would be a fool

Even the plump steward couldn't help but admire the bald registrar with a glance. To react so swiftly and to perform such a heartfelt display to navigate around what was originally an almost irretrievable situation, this fellow truly is a cunning old fox

Link nodded in satisfaction and raised his second finger: "Secondly, I believe that there is no need to learn those ceremonial rules and customs that are merely for decoration. Of course, anything that helps me become a true knight, no matter how difficult or exhausting, I will definitely study earnestly. You can rest assured about this!"

"Third one," Link smiled at the bald registration officer, causing the officer to nearly buckle at the knees and sit down on the ground.

Since even the knight mentor is appointed by the apprentices themselves, it is unreasonable to expect this knight mentor to be able to command the young master Link before him to learn anything he is unwilling to study

"Speak, please do speak!" The two eyes of the plump steward radiated with excitement, while the bald registrar beside him nodded vigorously. If one were to solely observe their behavior, it would be easy for anyone to perceive them as a pair of big bad wolves about to lead the lost lamb, Link, astray.

Uh! Everyone was a bit taken aback by Link's action, as the bearded knight he faced was merely a low-ranking junior high knight who had just qualified to become a knight instructor

However, Link's face was still filled with an innocent expression: "If they are not the ordinary, mediocre, and unlearned masses you mentioned, does that mean they are all heroes like Lord Viador? Then are you implying that knights like Lord Viador are everywhere?"

"O Lord of the Gods," the bald registrar exclaimed, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. He spread his arms towards the heavens and cried out loudly: "In Your mercy, guide us, so that in our lifetimes, we may witness the genius of such a knight. From the words spoken by young Master Link just now, I can conclude that you are destined to become a great knight, reviving the traditional glory of the imperial knights. You shall become the messenger of justice, representing the conscience of the imperial knights. Will you not accept my sincere invitation to take the first step towards becoming the greatest knight of the empire?"

Link looked at the bald registrar and chuckled, "Who exactly are those unlearned merchant offspring you just mentioned, along with the majority of ordinary, average, and mediocre knights?"

Oh? Very well," Link approached one of the knights in the knight mentor group, suddenly wiping the smile off his face. He solemnly performed the formal gesture of an apprentice greeting a mentor, and then, in a very serious tone, asked: "I sincerely hope to follow you. Would you be willing to guide me in achieving the glory of a knight?"

The bald official looked at Link's eyes, glancing around at various parts of his body as if studying which piece to cut off. He was on the verge of tears, his legs shaking uncontrollably, so frightened that he almost wet his pants

"Then what is your reason?" The bearded knight turned his head and looked at Camilla

Yay! Link and Camila both jumped up.

Link nodded with satisfaction and said, "Then, could you cover my friend's living expenses during his time as a knight apprentice? I believe this amount is just a trifle for you, isn't it?"

After concluding that Link is a little fox, the plump butler felt a slight sense of relief. After all, he was more afraid that this young master Link would truly be a half-grown child who acted solely on impulse without regard for the consequences. If he offended someone who feared nothing, he would have no way to persuade them. However, facing someone as understanding as Link, there was still some room for negotiation between them.

"Go ahead, do it," Link said generously, waving his hand. "Just handle whatever formalities are needed; I will consider myself a knight apprentice!"

... ...

Moreover, when Link spoke these words, the earnest expression on his face subtly made the plump butler feel that perhaps allowing this young master Link before him to learn and grow according to his own nature might indeed cultivate a truly great knight for the Imperial Knights Order

The members of the Knight Mentorship Group were pleased, as were the onlookers who had come to sign up. The members of the Knight Mentorship Group were happy that someone had finally taken on the seemingly difficult young master, relieving them of the headache of dealing with this troublesome and formidable individual. Meanwhile, those who had come to sign up were delighted that they could finally resume the registration process.

The knights present were all of a lower rank than him, not to mention that he had a Lady Victoria behind him

How is it that just after making a vow, one begins to speak out again

However, this was of no consequence; the plump butler merely paused for a moment before readily agreeing: "Alright, that's not a problem!"

I want to as well," Camila shouted loudly, only to realize that everyone was staring at her. Consequently, her voice diminished once again, and she respectfully asked the bearded knight, "May I also choose you as my knight mentor?"

The plump butler raised his head: "I can handle it!"

"Young Master," the plump steward's body trembled slightly, yet he still forced a smile on his face: "Did you not originally wish to enroll as a knight apprentice? Why... why..."